Process for obtaining the bast from ramie-stalks and from kindred plants.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX EINSTEIN, F HAMBURG, GERMANY.

PROCESS FOR OBTAINING THE EAST FROM RAMIE-STALKS AND FROM KINDBEDPLANTS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MAX EINSTEIN, a sub ject of the German Emperor, anda resident of Hamburg, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Processes for Obtaining the Bast from Ramie-Stalks andfrom Kindred Plants, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is a process for obtaining the bast fromramie-stalks and from kindred plants.

The ramie-fiber is retained in the bast by gums and is freed by chemicaldissolution of the gums in the known manner. In order to obtain thefiber in an undamaged condition great care must be taken in obtainingthe bast. Although a great number of patents have been issued for themechanical separation of the ramie-bast from the stalk, nevertheless thetrade uses almost exclusively the hand separated bast from China, andwith this the mechanically separated bast should be able to competeindustrially. It must, therefore, be observed. that this process is notmeant simply to separate the bast, but is for the purpose of mostcarefully separating the bast while protecting it from directparticipation in the process of destroying and removing the woody parts.

The ramie-stalk contains at the interior the pith, around which issituated a tubular, brittle, woody tissue, the latter is also surroundedagain in a similar manner by the bast which is covered by a thin hairyskin, the epidermis. It is evident that the fiber will be injuredwhenever the woody part has been broken right through the bast or whenby spreading, flattening or crushing of the stalk, the woody part hasbeen driven into the bast, or when the woody part and the bast are movedtogether at intervals toand-fro against a resisting object (calledscutching). The fiber, being quite immovable within the bast, cannotyield to any influences exercised upon the bast of a bursting, tearingor cutting nature, and will consequently be weakened or break under suchinfluences. The damage, however, is gener ally not perceptible, becausean exact ex- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5,1912.

Application filed. May 16, 1911. Serial No. 627,569.

manner. The pith and the woody parts on the one hand, and the bast andepidermis on the other are connected with each other whereas the bastonly rests loosely against the woody part. That side of the bast whichfaces the woody part and that side of the woody part which faces thebast are slippery. The woody part is of a brittle nature and,particularly from inward to outward, owing to the concave shape and thelesser density near the pith, can easily be broken off. The bast beingon the outer, and the woody part on the inner side of the stalk, thestalk is split and then bent in pieces over the bast. The woody partwill thus be broken off at the bend. The bast with the attachedepidermis are not thereby subject to any strain whatever, owing to theirflexibility. Owing to the stifiness of the wood, the loose connectionwith the bast, and the slippery surfaces, the pieces of wood stand awayat the cracks from the bast and form chinks, by which they can be seizedand pulley away. After removal of the woody parts that side of the bastwhich had been facing them is liberated without any force having beenusedon the bast itself. On its outer side the epidermis is rubbed off inthe usual manner.

, I claim;

Process of obtaining the bast from the ramie and other stalks,consisting in splitting'the stalks substantially in half, breaking thewoody portions transversely into pieces above the bast, and removingindependently each piece of the woody portion thus broken.

MAX EINSTEIN.

Witnessesz ERNEST H. L. MUMMENHOFF, LEO ESOHERIOH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G.

